Take the Taranaki provincial rugby team and the resources they receive for example and the contrast becomes apparent.

A vibrant stadium with first-class facilities as opposed to a humble, but proud, clubroom in Waitara.

Sam Scannell

The Taranaki Sharks train under the floodlights at Waitara's Clifton Park.

The minimum salary for a player in the Taranaki rugby team is $25,000 for 10 weeks of work, with marquee talents fetching a higher pay packet.

For the Taranaki rugby league team, it's a struggle just to get petrol vouchers to pay for the players' gas to get to training.

The reality of the situation is that work and family commitments can, and has, cost players a spot in the Sharks programme.

Sam Scannell

Trainer Greg Davies discusses a drill with the team.

So, when they have training in Opunake, at least a half hour drive for many in the team, and only six players can get there, they make do. No slacking off. No less intensity in the session. The six on the pitch give it their all regardless.

Under the watchful eyes of coaching staff Alan Jackson, Greg Davies and Noho Parata, they train until sweat drips from their foreheads.

They breathe like dragons under the moon in temperatures well below 10 degrees Celsius as they encourage one another after a set piece comes off during practice.

Sam Scannell

Sean Mare works on his passing.

"Shot, cuz."

"That was mean, bro."

Short and sweet. Simple, but effective.

Sam Scannell

Sharks on three. One. Two. Three. SHARKS.

After training, there's no rush to get out of the cold. The boys stay on the pitch for an extra few minutes and high-five one another, then walk off the field as a unit.

It might not get the most attention in the region, but second rower Tieimi Ransfield considers the Sharks to be role models for children coming up through the grades and anyone who'd thought of taking up the sport.

Ransfield has been a part of the senior squad for the past two years and says representing the region is something he takes pride in.

Sam Scannell

From left, team members Charles Walters, Jarod Kumeroa and Maloni Tuitupou greet each other ahead of the match against the Manawatu Mustangs at Yarrow Stadium.

"It's a privilege to be able to put the yellow and black jersey on."

If the coaches, players and volunteers didn't care as much as they do, the Taranaki Sharks would become nothing but a fond memory. There is no incentive whatsoever aside from getting everything they can out of the game they love.

They turn up because their mates do.

Sam Scannell

A ball boy peers in as the Shark prepare to face the Mustangs.

The Taranaki Sharks brotherhood.

As Ransfield puts it, "the love of the game is where it's at."

It's an idea that plays a big part of their training; have your teammates' backs on defence and be there to back them up on attack.

Sam Scannell

Time to strap up.

"It's something they drive, and something you need in a team," Jackson says.

In May, the side took that mentality to the field at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth, where they dismantled the Manawatu Mustangs 38-8 in the curtain raiser for the Warriors NRL clash against the Canberra Raiders.

"The boys loved it. It was easy to get them to training as they all wanted to play."

Sam Scannell

Brothers on the pitch. Brothers off the pitch.

Now, they're preparing themselves to take on the Mustangs again in the central region qualifiers for the national championship competition for which Jackson has chosen a squad packed full of talent with a good balance of youth and experience.

Among the fresh faces in this weekend's side is 18-year-old half Emerson Maxwell Gray.

Gray will suit up his debut match for the team on Saturday and said he believed playing for the regional side was comparative to a rugby player being selected for the regional NPC team.